Folding table



V. O. STEBBINS FOLDING TABLE Filed Jan. 25, 1938 INVENTOR VERN O. Sreeams I 4 1 1" 3 e I .a

I If I A 1 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STA'i'Efi iPATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to folding tables and is particularly adapted to be used in connection with card tables.

The primary object of the invention is to fold 5 or unfold all of the legs simultaneously by a simple mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to lock the legs of the table in either open or closed position by a folding mechanism so that a very rigid table results therefrom.

Other'objects of the invention being in its simplicity and cheapness of manufacture.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent upon reading the specification and claims to follow.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an inverted perspective view of a table having the legs in open or erected position, parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is an inverted plan View of the table turned 90 from the position shown in Figure 1,

- the legs being shown in folded position.

Figure 3 is an inverted end elevation illustrating the method of folding the legs.

In the drawing:

I is a table top as commonly used in card tables and the like, having downwardly extending sides or borders 2. Legs 3 and 4 are pivotally mounted to the corners of the table at 5 and 6 in the usual manner by pivot pins 1. The legs 8 and 9 are pivotally mounted to the offset corners l0 and H by pivot pins I2. The reason for this offset is to permit the folding of the legs 3 and 4 without interfering with the folding of the legs 8 and 9. The principle of this invention depends upon mounting the legs on two sides of the table only and folding them towards each other, making it necessary to offset one pair of legs as shown. 40 The braces [3, I4, l5 and [6 are pivotally mounted to the legs at IT at their one end and pivotally mounted to the four corners of the movable center plate l8 at l9 at their opposite ends.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be noted that the 45 center plate I 8 is held to the underside of the table top by a clamp 20 which works within the opening 2| of the plate l8 and is pivotally mounted to the underside of the table at 22. It may not be necessaryto provide a clamp for holding the center 50 plate in either the position shown in Figures 1 or 2 but meanshas been shown to hold it in a rigid position. I do not wish to be limited to the particular design of the center plate I8, as it may take any suitable form still retaining the same 55 principle.

Still referring to Figure 1 and also to Figure 3,

assuming that We unlock the locking bar 20 by turning it to register with the opening 2| then taking hold of the handle 23 of the center plate raising up on the same to the position shown in Figure 3, the legs 3 and 9 will be folded over towards the right then further revolving of the handle 23 and plate l8 about the pivot point 24, in the direction of the arrows, will pull braces 15 and it of the legs 4 and 8 to the position shown in Figure 2, which is folded position. 0

What is claimed to be new is:

1. A folding table including a table top, legs mounted for movement into a position at substantially right angles to the top to support the same in table-forming relation or in a position in 15 contact with the under side of the bottom of the table in folded relation, braces pivotally connected to the legs, and a center plate pivotally connected to the braces, said center plate being bodily movable for reverse contact with the lower surface of the table top, the plate in one position holding the braces to maintain the legs in tableforming relation and in another position holding the braces in position to maintain the legs in folded relation. 25

2. A folding table including a table top, folding legs movable with respect to the top, braces connected to the legs, and a plate movably connected to the braces, said plate being bodily movable to position one face or the other in contact with the under surface of the table top, said plate in movement operating the braces to afiect the legs.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2, wherein a handle member extends from the plate to permit the plate to be reversed, one dimension of the plate being substantially equal to the free space of the table between adjacent legs when the latter are in folded relation.

4. A folding table including a table top having a depending edge flange, legs pivotally connected to the flange, certain of the legs being operative in offset planes with relation to the remaining legs, a brace pivotally connected to each leg, a flat plate designed to rest against the bottom of the table proper, the braces being pivotally connected to the ends of the plate, said plate being movable substantially on an axis at right angles to such ends to move the plate-connected ends of the braces toward and from each other to compel corresponding movement of the legs.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4, wherein the plate is formed with an elongated recess, and a turn-button is secured to the table to fix the plate with respect to the table at will.

VERN O. STEBBINS. 

